There’s been a lot of talk in the press about this game, for the obvious reason that if we manage to beat Pool at Anfield, then it might well mean Brendan Rodgers will get the bullet on Monday.
And if you look at our record at Anfield over the last few years, it’s quite impressive. Without checking the facts, I can only remember one defeat in the last four or five times we’ve played them there. There was also the memorable win over them in the FA cup semi.
So we have a very good record of getting a result, quite often when it wasn’t expected.
Liverpool have twice the points we do (8) from the first six games and sit 13th in the league. Of course that’s not on a par with the Liverpool fans lofty ambitions and while I almost felt a slight dig at them coming on then, the reality is that for a club like Liverpool, it simply isn’t good enough. I don’t know where you rate them, but to my mind they ought to be top six, with more of a claim than we have.
Especially when you consider the money they’ve spent.
The very good news on our part is that Christian Benteke won’t be involved.
Can you imagine him against our defence, if he’s on fire?
Like I said, good news.
Roberto Firmino has a cracked bone in his back, Dejan Lovren has done a ligament and Jordan Henderson has had an operation on his foot. That’s a fair loss this early in the season, I reckon.
On the plus side for them, Daniel Sturridge is back in after being rested for the narrow defeat of Carlisle midweek.
Did Liverpool really have 45 shots without scoring in that game?
If so, that sounds like a team desperately down on it’s luck.
As for us, the good news is Gana’s back in training after a bit of “Paul Daniels” type treatment in France and could be fit.
Gabby’s a doubt, but as I’ve previously suggested, I think he’ll get a start if he’s anywhere near ok.
Traore and Okore are back in training, but this game might be too soon.
And Gardner starts training on Monday.
So it could be worse.
So, what to think?
Well, liverpool have had a poor start and the manager is under severe pressure, isn’t he?
And we have that very good record at Anfield of late.
I find this one difficult to call for a few reasons.
First off, liverpool’s defence can be as dodgy as ours can’t it?
Which means if the likes of Grealish and Gil/Ayew get at them, we have plenty that can open them up.
Likewise, our defence, where Sturridge is always dangerous and they have plenty who can hurt us.
If that 45 shots is true, I’d suggest we need them to stay out of luck.
But the biggest thing is going to be how Sherwood approaches the game.
I’m guessing he’s going to try to maximise our pace and trickery, which is why I think he’ll be hoping for Gabby to at least start.
I’d expect Ayew to come straight in, although if Traore does happen to be fit, he’d get the right-wing slot first.
A straight back four, with Clark back on the bench.
And Sanchez and Westwood as the centre mids.
I doubt there’s much to be debated there and the usual applies, in the Gestede/Bacuna/Hutton merits or otherwise.
It’s definitely good that the team sheet doesn’t write itself these days and we do have realistic options.
So ultimately, the truth is I don’t know.
It could be a single goal win either way.
Then again, if either side gets their shooting boots on, it could be a shoeing.
So I’ll plump for 1-1.
UTV
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It’ll be interesting to see how Sherwood changes this up.
Traore would be a good bet, to give them something to worry about on our right, as they’ve battered us there.
We need to get Grealish further up the field too.
Tricky, because if we go to bold, we’ll leave ourselves too open at the back.
Their pressing has impressed me.
We need to do the same.
No subs!
Changes – no changes. Still playing super deep.
With this set up we have no attacking players. Sinclair, Gestede, and Grealish have all been playing defensively most of this game.
Constant fucking about and nowhere near quick enough, hence getting caught in possession again.
That’s really annoying!
Lucky this isn’t 3/4-0 right now – no idea why Sherwood is parking the bus.
Because he’s clueless that’s why
I can’t argue with that.
Amavi turned his back then and got lucky.
Goal coming up?
Game over
He’s beginning to get to me now, worst start in 29 years and still failing us fans with his selection of players, again other teams are helping us out in not winning games, when will this start to be Villas year, where is my mucker Giddy .?
2 now fuck it.
2-0 we’re doooomed!
🙁
Yep, game over now 🙁
Oh look a sub who isn’t a defensive midfielder…
Went are we never brave in defeat? Why don’t we ever make it difficult for teams. We are Fucking shit. I’ve had enough.
Only one team wants this. We were defeated before a ball was even kicked.
So you’re saying the manager didn’t do his job?
Just look how not arsed we started. Pathetic.
Looking at the team and tactics he clearly hasn’t done his job!
Get gestede off and Ayew on.
sorry sherwood not good enough get big sam in sort out this mess
Good shout JV… I said Big Sam last week. Not the most stylish manager but he’d sort this lot out and give us a comfortable mid table finish.
Hell keep us up but we need a proper long term manager now. Why didn’t we go for bilic or ranierie typical boring stale managers we go for
It’s starting to look that way. We’re currently at our best when Sherwood plays his ‘new’ team. Why persist with the old guard????
I think Rodgers will still get sacked after this
Gestede… 2-1 now.
3-1 Sturridge
We get a goal out of nothing and we still don’t wake up and give a shit. Now 3-1 heads down game over
Fuck me, get the ball out wide and behind them and we score!
That might put Pool a bit more on the back foot.
Maybe not.
Too late for Adama now well done Tim shit tactics again.
Ayew and adama on and at least have a go, pathetic, Westwood is wank, like a pensioners turd wet!!!! Big mistakes, players that had a good game previously not playing, keep the momentum, play ayew from the start. We are foooooked
Too little to fuckin late
Ugh, Grealish off?! Traore on. 3-3-4 being the likely formation
My 3.2 prediction was spot on but wrong way round
So not spot on then 😉
Traore off for Grealish?
I’d have taken Sinclair off?????
bloody hell, 3-2 Gestede